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TALALens2023-01-10T17:47:34-06:00

Transparency in Leadership

This article is the fifth of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee.  Leading with transparency has multiple benefits to an organization and its people. Transparency is often thought to refer to something that is permeable or see though. When it comes to leadership, transparency refers more to integrity, being open and honest. While it is understood that not every aspect of a business can be shared in its totality (i.e. we don’t share our entire profit and loss statement or internal quality assurance documents with the public) but leading with a [...]

By |March 6th, 2024|

Consistency in Leadership

This article is the fourth of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee. Stay tuned each week for the next in the series.   There are multiple traits that make a successful leader in Senior Living: high emotional intelligence, integrity, respect, self-awareness, communication. One trait that is also key in moving the needle in your business is consistency. What Are the Benefits of Leading with Consistency? Leading with consistency means that a leader builds a sense of security with both their team and the residents and families they serve. There are multiple benefits of [...]

By |February 28th, 2024|

Self-Differentiation & Why It’s Important in Work Relationships

This article is the third of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee. Stay tuned each week for the next in the series.   Differentiation of self is a psychological state in which someone can maintain their sense of self, identity, thoughts, and emotions when emotionally or physically close with others, particularly within intense relationships. What Is Differentiation of Self?  Differentiation of self means separating personal feelings and thoughts from those of co-workers, friends, or other networks. Doing so may sound simple, but this ability is not innate and rarely employed. For example, emotions like [...]

By |February 21st, 2024|

What is Emotional Intelligence?

This article is the second of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee. Stay tuned each week for the next in the series.  Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. The term was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey but was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman.The most effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as [...]

By |February 13th, 2024|

Getting to Know Staff Needs

This article is the first of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee. Stay tuned each week for the next in the series.   Let’s start off by stating the fact that we all want to be truly seen and truly known.  The workplace is no exception.  Famous psychologist, Abraham Harold Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs[1] lists five basic needs for all humans: Self-Actualization Self-Esteem Love & Belonging Safety & Security Physiological needs Four of the five relate to one’s desire to be known: Love and Belonging, Self Esteem, Self-Actualization and Safety [...]

By |February 9th, 2024|

TALA Achieves Great Place to Work Certification for 4th Consecutive Time

TALA has been recognized for the January 2024-January 2025 year as a Great Place to Work®, an internationally respected workplace culture authority. TALA President and CEO Diana Martinez said, “Being recognized with the Great Place to Work (GPTW) certification is an honor. The team at TALA is the backbone of this organization, being certified as a great place to work means TALA employees feel working at TALA is a positive and enriching experience. This is the fourth certification in a row that TALA has received from GPTW. TALA places a high importance on culture and is appreciative of this recognition.” [...]

By |February 5th, 2024|

Measuring Workforce Health: Finding Insights in Payroll Data

The workforce is a topic at the forefront for most senior living operators as operators determine the best way to balance labor and business priorities without compromising on resident care. Measuring workforce health quantitatively can be challenging, particularly because payroll data can be complex. However, there are a few simple and actionable ways to use payroll data to measure workforce health by using three key performance indicators (KPIs). KPI 1: New Hire Turnover Within 90 Days Definition: the number of employees who leave less than 90 days after their start date. How to Calculate It: Pick a period (i.e., June [...]

By |November 29th, 2023|

Insights from Recent TALAHour: Successful Integration of Independent Living into Assisted Living, with Pi Architects and Civitas Senior Living

Senior living is much more complex, varied, and creative than ever, and residents and their families expect diverse and numerous amenities. Innovation and flexibility are keys to thriving in this evolving market, and both come into play with the successful integration of independent living into assisted living, the topic of a recent TALAHour webinar hosted by Misty Powell, Chief Program Officer/Co-Founder of Civitas Senior Living, and Greg Hunteman, President of Pi Architects. The two hosts, both TALA members and frequent collaborators on several projects, talked about the different models of integration, the advantages and challenges of each, and how to [...]

By |November 15th, 2023|

2024 Conference: Theme Announcement and Exciting Changes

The 2024 Annual TALA Conference and Industry Expo (#tala2024) will include some changes to continue to build value and excitement for attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. First, you may have noticed the name change: TALA decided to make the former “Trade Show” into the “Industry Expo.” This name change reflects the significance and involvement of TALA’s incredible Industry Partners in the Industry Expo. TALA is extremely grateful for your continued support. This year’s conference will feature a new app that has a simpler user interface and much easier usability to manage your personal conference schedule, find helpful floorplans, stay up to [...]

By |October 18th, 2023|

Emergency Preparation and TALA Member Benefits

A benefit that long-term care communities have in Texas is the ability to be registered for priority power restoration following a loss of power. Under Texas Utilities Code 38.072, Assisted Living communities and other types of long-term care have the same status as priority power restoration that a hospital has. However, to be considered for priority power restoration, an Assisted Living community, including smaller-sized four or five-bedroom homes, must be listed as either a commercial or business customers with their utility providers. Assisted Living communities (ALs) in areas with retail electric competition (i.e., where there is a choice of electrical [...]

By |September 27th, 2023|

TALA Launches Leadership Development Series

TALA is excited to announce the launch of a new online Leadership Development Series (LDS). The LDS was created to support new and existing senior living employees as they transition into a supervisory leadership role. The series will build a foundation for employees that do not have previous leadership or management experience and is specific to the senior living industry. The LDS is structured so that participants can complete the program in their own time. The program is broken into four main modules covering leadership basics, department responsibilities, communication, and connecting with individuals beyond their role. The webinar content will [...]

By |August 17th, 2023|

Sweltering Summer Doesn’t Deter TALA Heroes

TALA members have been busy this summer, keeping residents engaged in activities and offerings while beating the heat. While the heat has limited time spent outdoors, it has led to creative themed solutions that still capitalize on the summer season. At Legend of Fort Worth, 2023 TALA Hero Activity Director winner Andrea Loman has put together a myriad of summer-themed life enrichment. Residents took time to make customized, intricate door signs for their front doors. Loman also keeps residents physically active, despite the outside temperatures, and has put on an indoor seated volleyball tournament. On a rare cooler day, residents [...]

By |August 8th, 2023|

Long Term Care Costs and Why Assisted Living Still Cost-Efficient Option

Numerous recent articles have shared the costs of Long-Term Care, how people are paying for it, and how many cannot afford Long Term Care (LTC). The main source of much of this information is a 2023 analysis by the National Council on Aging and the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Many national news outlets have picked up this story, however there are several other factors to consider when looking at the landscape of the industry and how it may change. What will not change, however, is the fact that when looking at monthly costs, Assisted Living [...]

By |July 12th, 2023|

The 88th Legislative Session by the Numbers

If you’ve been following political news in the Lone Star State, then you are aware that the 88th Legislative Session has concluded. It was a wild one to be sure. The House expelled a sitting colleague, Representative Bryan Slaton. The Texas House sent articles of Impeachment for the Texas Attorney General to the Texas Senate for that chamber’s consideration, and the Governor called members back for a special session a mere three hours after the regular session concluded. Legislators filed more bills this session than they ever have before, and they had an enormous budget surplus to work with. Did [...]

By |June 28th, 2023|

Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA) President & CEO Diana Martinez elected to the Argentum Board of Directors

Diana Martinez said of her election, “I am incredibly honored to become part of the Argentum board. The work Argentum does to advance the quality and professionalism of the senior living industry, while supporting residents and families, is surpassed by none. I look forward to serving the senior living industry in this new capacity. I also look forward to the opportunity to elevate TALA by giving our TALA members and Industry Partners a presence at a national level and highlighting the significant impact that Texas has in the senior living space.”   Argentum is the leading national association exclusively dedicated to [...]

By |May 12th, 2023|

Recap: 2023 TALA Conference and Trade Show, Lights, Camera, Assisted Living

The #2023talaconfandtradeshow began with a packed day of engaging nursing track sessions and a leadership intensive presented by Jonathan Fanning. In the evening, industry partners, provider members, board members, and speakers mingled at the board reception where memories were captured at the photo-booth, hors d’oeuvres and drinks were enjoyed, and a celebrity look-a-like, The Queen of Tejano herself- Selena made an appearance! Day 2 kicked off with coffee and kolaches followed by a record-breaking attendance at the Opening Keynote: “Building Emotional Intelligence,” presented, again, by the always-popular Jonathan Fanning. It was a packed house at 8:00 AM. If you’ve seen [...]

By |May 1st, 2023|

Apprenticeship Opportunities through Texas Workforce Development Boards

Did you know? Texas offers apprenticeship opportunities available through local Workforce Development Boards. A Workforce Development Board is comprised of locals appointed by elected officials, such as Mayors and County Judges. The Board is responsible for the workforce programs and services in their area. In Texas, 28 local Boards operate over 180 Local Workforce Solutions Offices. These opportunities can help pay for education costs, transportation, and in some cases, even childcare for upskill programs, such as those for CNAs and CMAs. Because of recent policy changes, Assisted Living communities can now host clinicals for CNA’s, opening the door for these [...]

By |February 3rd, 2023|

Why Do Caregivers Go: KARE Survey Results from over 1,000 Caregivers

In Q4 2022, KARE conducted a survey where 1,300 caregivers nationwide participated, along with select community managers. The survey investigated what motivates caregivers to quit.   Answers were rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the top factor and 1 being least factor that contributed to wanting to leave an Employer.   Caregiver responses identified low pay at 8.09 as the top reason for wanting to leave an employer followed by disrespect from management at 7.38. Third reason was poor culture at 6.87. The survey asked community management to rate top reasons why they thought caregivers leave. Management [...]

By |January 20th, 2023|

What’s at Stake for Assisted Living in the 2023 Texas Legislative Session

At noon Tuesday, January 10, the 88th Texas Legislative Session will officially begin. New state representatives and state senators will gather for a swearing in; the halls of the Texas Capitol will be bustling and TALA VP of Public Policy Carmen Tilton will be there live and in-person – you can see live Twitter updates from Carmen here.   According to the Texas Constitution, each legislative session lasts exactly 140 days and occurs every other year. Legislators have until May 29th to pass a two-year budget and any policy items. . At the time this article was published, over 1,600 [...]

By |January 10th, 2023|

COVID-19 Healthcare Relief Grants (ARPA Grants)

Grants are here – announcements started coming out last Friday regarding the status of applications for the COVID-19 Healthcare Relief Grants (ARPA grants).   Recipients who no longer wish to receive the funds need to email [email protected] by December 20, 2022, 5:00PM to have their application withdrawn. Providers who would like to accept their grant awards should wait for a follow-up email from the Health and Human Services Commission.   If you applied for the Grant Program and you have not yet heard anything (neither an award notification nor an award denial), please send an email to [email protected] with the [...]

By |December 19th, 2022|

Managing Reviews to Create a Strong Online Presence

Do you research reviews before eating at a restaurant? Do you check multiple review sites when purchasing a product, especially if it has a large price tag? Consumers use online reviews and online review sites to research and make informed purchasing decisions. From restaurants to gadgets and more, online reviews are part of the purchasing process. Most smart businesses have already been creating and running programs that encourage consumers to leave reviews on popular sites relevant for the business and industry. Regardless of your industry, if you run a business, your customers will probably use the internet to learn more [...]

By |December 6th, 2022|

New Amendment offers Competitive Advantages for Nursing Employment

As you may have recently heard, effective September 27, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) adopted an amendment to Title 26 of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 556, regarding Nurse Aides and Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs.   What this means is that now Assisted Living communities are eligible to be designated clinical sites, allowing them to conduct on-site training for Nursing programs. Offering Nursing instruction onsite is a great recruiting and employee benefit. This gives Assisted Living communities a competitive advantage in the job market which is especially important given the ongoing Nurse shortage in [...]

By |November 16th, 2022|

New Dual Membership Program with Argentum and TALA

In the October TALAView, TALA unveiled the launch of a dual membership with Argentum. This new dual program is especially for smaller Assisted Living providers in Texas. TALA is very excited to offer this membership program because we strive to serve Assisted Living providers of all sizes and we continue to seek new ways to offer value to our members. This is a first-of-its-kind special opportunity for our smaller member providers in Texas to access – for free – Argentum benefits valued at $2,500. With this membership, Argentum includes their extensive industry research reports, white papers, webinars, discounts, member-only subscriptions, [...]

By |November 8th, 2022|

Surveys Illustrate Impact of Covid Policies on Recruiting and Retention

TALA recently surveyed our Assisted Living provider members on masking and Covid-19 vaccine policies to ascertain their impact on employee hiring and retention. Results indicate a variety of experiences however overall, most indicated that masking and infection policies have not had a negative impact on recruitment and retention. Most respondents to both surveys represented a larger network of Assisted Living (AL) communities. In all surveys, about 20% of respondents had 30 or fewer beds. At least 50% of responses indicated that Covid-19 infection protocols including masking and vaccines have not had an impact on retention. Regarding mask policies, more than [...]

By |October 27th, 2022|

NINE TALA MEMBER PROVIDERS RANKED AMONG TOP 25 BY FORTUNE

Congratulations to the following nine TALA member providers for being ranked in Fortune’s List of 25 Best Workplaces in Aging Services Senior Housing and Care: The Aspenwood Company, Atria Senior Living, Belmont Village Senior Living, Frontier Management, Legend Senior Living, Holiday by Atria, Sagora Senior Living, Silverado Senior Living, and Sunrise Senior Living. Fortune created this list based on survey feedback in the Great Place to Work® employee survey. Companies that make the Best Workplaces in Aging Services List represent the best of the Senior Living Industry and their own markings and rankings. The Great Place to Work Institute measures [...]

By |October 5th, 2022|
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